The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-09
DISTRUSTED BY THE POLICE
The Grand Jury Charged With Being Un-
WarrantedIy Lenient With Criminals.
In Consequence the Police Will Take All Cases
Directly Before the Criminal Conrt-What
Superintendent Travis Says.

The relations between the present grand jury
and the police SO strained that the latter
are asking no help from the former in Furnishing
criminals 1t has been the custom for the police
to furnish many witnesses who are supposed to
know of misdoings at each session of the jury,
but no one is being sent before the present jury
because Superintendent Travis and the officers
of the force have no faith in its honesty in exam
ming into cases. Several weeks ago the officers
adopted the plan of going into the Criminal
Court and filing information direct in all import
ant cases. A bill of information amounts to the
same thing Indictment and is much
less expentive way of bringing criminals
to trial. The law, however, provides that writs
of information can only be filed when the grand
jury is not in session, and the police are, there
fore, not able to take all of the business out of
the hands of the jury, they would like to do.
The police say the abominable work of the
grand jury is the cause of there being so many
thieves in the city. During the two sessions
previous to the one now being held. four-ffths
of the worst characters arrested and bound over
by the Mayor to await grand-jury action, were
discharged. Then it was that the police be-
came Disguised and refused to depend upon the
jury for assistance in securing the punishment
of men under arrest. AT the September term
~SSA~
bound over by the Mayor were discharged.
Among the number were three men arrested for
assaulting and robbing a young woman on
Georgia street in the presence of witnesses who
followed them to stable two squares away and
captured them. The record of the October
term was almost as bad ''Goose" Eden, who
had been placed under bond in the lower court
for perjury in a liquor case, on evidence that
was positive, was discharged and there were
the usual number of grand and petit larcenists
set at liberty.
The jury. since the end of its first session, has
been very lenient with saloon keepers During
their first term the jurors returned something
over thirty indictments against violators of the
liquor law. They had been instructed however,
when their second session began, and, although
a great number of witnesses to law breaking by
Hquor-sellers Were furnished by Superintendent
Travis, no indictments were returned. Since
the end of the first session there has been in
dictments against hquor-selers. and two months
ago Superintendent Travis ceased to send wit
nesses who knew of violations before this body.
Superintendent Travis speaks plainly about
the jury. '.It is the greatest farce of jury
ever had said he to Journal reporter last even
ing. ''andI have nothing but contempt for it.
1t has turned out some of the worst thieves we
ever had in Indianapolis. and has continually
undone all the police force has been accomplish
ing. have quit asking them to do anything
and don't expect anything from them. 1 in
structed the men to go direct into the
Criminal Court whenever there was an
important case, and we will continue
to do that when the jury is not in session. We
can get along very well without any of its assist
ance. Two months ago they told me that they
wouldn't send for witnesses in liquor cases, and
ments returned against violators of the liquor
law, although plenty of witnesses can be fur
nished. 1t is simply outrage that grand
jury should be controlled by few men, and it
is time for it to stop. We would stand much
better show of getting justice meted out if the
grand jury was out of the way entirely. and if
we are to be troubled with any more like the
present one would rather have none and do all
the business direct in the Criminal Court"